The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1887-12-22
Dakota's member of the national n
publican committee, says:

DakOCa MEMBER OF LIle udIlOudl Te
publican committee, says:
EDITOR ADVOCATED do not think
the senate should allow the passage of
an enabling act for Dakota as a whole
In case the lower house should send
up a bill for one state l believe the
senate will amend the bill SO that the
enabling act will apply to South Dako-
ia.
am in favor of remaining terri
tory rather than accept admission as a
whole.
/ consider the Aberdeen convention
a democratic scheme to keep the DakO-
ia question out of the presidential
canvass.
WALDO N. POTTER.
Hon. Waldo NJ. Potter, of the La
Moure Progress and Chronicle, the
veteran Dakota editor, writes:
EDITOR ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS stop
ping to answer the inquiries submitted
seriatim it may be sufficient to say,
that l am decidedly opposed to the pas
sage of any enabling act by congress
relating to Dakota, unless preceded or
accompanied by division Of the terri
tory. The house has plainly delayed
action. from year to year, with the
view to wearing out the sentiment for
division with the evils sufferd by terri
torial rule. The purpose has certainly
been cruel, and the wrong to Dakota
great; but for one [ prefer enduring
these evils until another house is elect
ed to accepting an enabling act for one
state, with denial of the privilege of
voting for president next year. II the
republicans of the senate acquiesce in
the passage of such a bill they will make
the mistake of helping their opponents
to profit by the wrongs already in
tlicted on this territory. Admission as
a whole must be opposed to avert the
perpetration of sectional feuds, profit
gate government and boss rule, expert
ence showing that these evils thrive
best where great distances are to be
overcome.
AS to the Aberdeen convention l
Judge from announcements made that
its inspiration was mainly derived from
the lobby element of both parties, and
that the attendance, though small COM
pared to promise, was largely due to
the Witness Of the Brown county me-
tropolis to meet the expenses of a capi
tai boom.
T. THORsON.
7. Thorson, mayor of CANTON, writes
as follows:
EDITOR ADvoCATE:-Replying to
your inquiry of the 10th inst. beg to say
that in my judgment the United States
senate should not consent to the pas
sage of a bill for the admission OF Da-
kota as whole. They should amend
it SO as to apply to South Dakota only,
or pass a bill giving us division. Itcer-
tainly would be preferable to remain a
territory much longer than to give in
as a whole. Even under carpet-bag
government the territory is proSpering
nicely.
The proposed Aberdeen convention
is in my opinion gotten up by the office
holding gang of democrats, who having
lately got to the public crib will now
obstruct every move looking towards
Dakota's admission. In other words, l
Don't believe they are sincere in want
ing state government in any form.
JOHN A. OWEN.
John A. Owen, district attorney of
county, and prominent
Dakotan, writes:
EDITOR ADvOCATE:-In reply to
yours of December 10 will say that do
not think the United States senate
should feel called upon to pass an enab-
ing act for the admission of Dakota as
I whole, but we must not shut our eyes
to the fact that the east fears the move
nent Of power westward, and if we, di-
visionists, lie quietly by and let things
lrift at Washington this winter there
S danger that the senate may do that
very thing. I think the senate should,
and, if we do our duty, it will, again de-
clare for the admission of South DakO-
5a-for two states but speak the will |
If probably 5000 Of our 5000 people in
county in saying that 1t is
better to remain a territory indefinitely !
han to be admitted as a whole. "Bet- |
;er twenty years a territory than adj
mission as a whole" says one of our
most influential democrats, and the re-
DublicanS say amen.
If we are men gifted for self govern
nent, we have in Dakota sufficient self |
'espect to stand firmly by principle, and I,
since the vote Of November
shows q majority of all for division.
The Aberdeen convention seems to be
IN effort by minority to ride over the
by the aid of expected federal |
power. 1t is an abandonment of the |
idea that the majority |
should direct the affairs of state. Its
Efforts will fail. Dakota must now
come i'll as two states. These prairies
ire not settled by men of less courage |
han those who settled Michigan and |
carved out their state as they desired it
md in accordance with their legal |
lights under the ordinance Of 1887.